Laura Vargas Koch: Return to RWTH Aachen and new research perspectives!

Laura Vargas Koch: Return to RWTH Aachen and new research perspectives!

Laura Vargas Koch took over the Chair of Algorithmic Game Theory and Discrete Mathematics at RWTH Aachen University on February 25, 2025. She is returning to her place of training, where she also received her doctorate. Her academic career is impressive as, despite her successes in sports, especially as a judoka, she also shows exceptional achievements in science.

Vargas Koch won a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and a silver medal at the 2013 World Championships. In her career, she has won a total of eight silver and bronze medals at World and European Championships in individual and team settings. After retiring from sport in 2019, she completed her doctorate in 2020 and worked as a postdoc at ETH Zurich and in Chile before working as a junior fellow at the Hausdorff Center for Mathematics at the University of Bonn.

Research priorities and applications

Vargas Koch's research focus is on algorithmic game theory, a field that combines game theory with algorithms to analyze and optimize mathematical interactions between agents with individual interests. In particular, she examines how the behavior of other road users influences the fastest route to work. This discipline is crucial for analyzing and solving complex problems that involve interacting actors with their own goals and strategies.

In cooperative game theory, a branch of algorithmic game theory, the mathematical definition of fairness in shared goals, such as the distribution of revenue, is researched. In discrete mathematics, on the other hand, the best option is chosen from a finite set of options, which is important in areas such as traffic optimization.

A key example of her research is the study of factors such as tolls that can influence behavior on the road. Future research fields could concern data traffic on the Internet or in power grids, where algorithms will play an essential role. Vargas Koch rides his bike to work every day in order to be independent of other road users.

Algorithmic game theory as a key technology

Algorithmic game theory represents an interface between theoretical computer science and practical applications. It helps in the analysis of online marketplaces, network design and online advertising. It is even used in price setting and market mechanisms. An example of this is the Vickrey auction, where the highest bidder pays the price of the second highest bid.

In addition, the PageRank algorithm, which ranks websites based on links, is also supported by concepts from algorithmic game theory. The technical depth of this discipline also includes current research topics such as mechanism design, pricing and complex networks. Given the transformation of markets through the Internet, algorithmic game theory is becoming increasingly important.

In order to promote the transfer of knowledge in this discipline, courses on algorithmic game theory are offered at RWTH Aachen University, which are based on the book “Algorithmic Game Theory” by Noam Nisan et al. based. Topics such as pricing without envy, combinatorial auctions and the inefficiency of equilibria are part of the curriculum.